Rock Creek Park

Rock Creek Park is Nature's gem in Washington, DC. Twice the size of famed Central Park in New York City, Rock Creek Park is the wild, wooded heart of the nation's capital, offering refuge and a keen sense of place for millions of residents and visitors each year.

Describes more than 300 species of trees of Washington, D.C.

Join National Park ranger, author and historian Scott Einberger as he traces the human, natural and urban history of Rock Creek Park, the largest park in the nation's capital. Washington, D. C. 's Rock Creek Park stands as a wild and wonderful natural gem among a burgeoning metropolis. But while local residents flock to its trails and roads on weekends to hike, jog and bicycle, they are largely unaware of its diverse history. The park's grounds were the site of the bloody Civil War Battle of Fort Stevens, and presidents like Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson exercised and picnicked in the park the same way many visitors do today. From the cabin of eccentric poet Joaquin Miller to the oldest house in Washington today, the many stories and legends surrounding the park are sure to entertain and inform.

Rock Creek Park celebrates Washington, DC's, resplendent wilderness retreat through the story of its formation and preservation. More than 100 years after its authorization by Congress, Rock Creek Park continues to offer Washingtonians and millions of visitors a peaceful sanctuary in the heart of an urban environment.

Former soldier Michael Freeman is now a homicide detective in Washington, D.C. As a huge snowstorm engulfs the city, a late night jogger in Rock Creek Park discovers the brutally beaten body of a once beautiful young woman. She is lying just yards from the palatial home of Senator John Cannon - one of the most powerful and wealthy men in America. It's clear that Freeman has a delicate case on his hands, and the investigation takes him relentlessly into ever more dangerous territory, like Germline BioSciences - a secretive, cutting-edge research facility funded by the Department of Defense. And what of the mysterious midnight jogger in Rock Creek Park? Is it really just a coincidence that Scottish bodyguard Harriet (Harry) Armstrong is now working for Germline's Russian director? With the body count escalating, Freeman and Harry are swiftly drawn into a shadowy world of secrets and conspiracies more shocking than anything either of them could have imagined. From Washington to the Caribbean and the desolate wastes of Abkhazia, this stunning new novel from the CWA Steel Dagger winner Simon Conway is packed with suspense and intrigue. It will further establish him at the forefront of the new generation of thriller writers.

Discover the wonders of Washington’s complex ecosystem with this field guide to the district’s parks, gardens, urban forests and more. Every neighborhood of Washington, D.C., is home to abundant wildlife, and its large park network is rich in natural wonders. A hike along the trails of Rock Creek Park, one of the country’s largest and oldest urban forests, quickly reveals white-tailed deer, eastern gray squirrels, and little brown bats. Mayapples, Virginia bluebells, and red mulberry trees are but a few of the treasures found growing at the National Arboretum. A stroll along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers might reveal stealthy denizens such as bullfrogs, largemouth bass, and common snapping turtles. In Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C., naturalist Howard Youth takes readers on an urban safari, describing the wild side of the nation’s capital. Detailed drawings by Carnegie artist Mark A. Klingler and photography by Robert E. Mumford, Jr., reveal the stunning color and beauty of the flora and fauna awaiting every D.C. naturalist. Residents and tourists alike will find this guide indispensable, whether seeking a secluded jog or an adventurous outing away from the noise of the city.